Ask Leo! #753 How Do I Change My Default Web Browser in Windows 10?

It's one of those things that changed in Windows 10 that we're still trying to get our heads around: changing the default web browser. The change is actually for your protection, though it is somewhat confusing.

Speaking of browsers, one of the most referenced article on the site -- seriously, there's probably not a day goes by where we don't point someone at it: all about browser caches; why they exist, and how to clear them.

Here's a scary catch-22: you don't want to download something that isn't safe but you can't check if it's safe until after you download it! What to do?

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The browser cache appears in more answers than questions, but often causes even more questions.

Even while following instructions to empty the cache, many people aren't clear on what this piece of magic really is, or why clearing the cache does anything at all.

Let's review what the browser cache is and why it exists. I'll also point you to steps to clear it in Edge, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome, and try to dream up some reasons why that sometimes helps.

Someone's pointing me to a downloadable program as solution for a problem I'm having. I'm really hesitant to download and run unknown EXE files. Is there any way I can scan it with some program or otherwise ascertain if it's clean or riddled with subtle spyware, viruses, or what ever else could be bad?

I was somewhat taken aback by this question. It's a perfectly good question — it's one that more people should be asking more often.

No, my reaction was due to the lack of a good answer.

It turns out that it's fairly difficult to ascertain whether or not something you've downloaded is about to play havoc with your system, particularly before you download it.

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